Tell Me About YOUR Apple Festival Interview Series

75 years of the Murphysboro Apple Festival told through your stories.

The music heard throughout the series is “Appletime, Sweet Appletime,” composed by Murphysboro native Thomas Tierney for the Apple Festival in 1974.  Learn more about Thomas Tierney

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    Favorite Festival Foods | Tell Me About YOUR Apple Festival

    The Apple Festival foods everyone looks forward to—and the favorites that keep people coming back year after year

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    Save Me a Seat on Walnut Street | Tell Me About YOUR Apple Festival

    Every summer, lawn chairs begin appearing along Walnut Street—weeks before the Murphysboro Apple Festival Parade. To outsiders, it may seem unusual. To generations of Murphysboro families, it's a tradition that represents something much bigger than saving a seat. In this special Tell Me About YOUR Apple Festival feature, community members reflect on why those familiar chairs have become a symbol of belonging, home, and the traditions that bring us back year after year.

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    Tell Me About YOUR Apple Festival Interview Series

    Inspired by my debut children’s book, Tell Me About Your Apple Festival, I created this series to capture the memories, traditions, and stories that have helped shape the Murphysboro Apple Festival over the last 75 years.

The Book That Started It All

Tell Me About Your Apple Festival
Betty can't wait for the Murphysboro Apple Festival, but she's not ready for bedtime.

As her mom shares stories of pies and parades, Betty discovers how tradition keeps family close across generations.

A charming look at a long-running festival and the value of tradition.
— Kirkus Reviews